The Tombs of Atuan: The Earthsea Cycle

(1972 Newbery Honor Book) Tenar is chosen as high priestess to the ancient and nameless Powers of the Earth in this second novel in the Earthsea series, and everything is taken from her—possessions, home, family, and even her name. She is now known only as Arha, the Eaten One, and guards the dark and labyrinthine Tombs of Atuan. Then a wizard named Ged comes to steal the greatest hidden treasure of the Tombs, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. Tenar's duty is to protect the Ring, but Ged possesses the light of magic and tales of a world that Tenar has never known. Will Tenar again sacrifice everything, this time to escape from the darkness that has become her domain? One of the most distinguished fantasy and science fiction writers of all time, Ursula K. Le Guin has won the Nebula Award, the Hugo Award, and the National Book Award. She is best known for her singular Earthsea fantasy series for readers 12 to adult, set on a world of many islands, where dragons and humans share a distant past, where magic keeps the world in balance and wizards can change their shape, and where one's true name is a secret that holds power. Originally a trilogy, begun in 1968 with A Wizard of Earthsea, the Earthsea cycle is a series of five novels—all of which have won literary honors—and a collection of tales.

"The magic of Earthsea is primal; the lessons of Earthsea remain as potent, as wise, and as necessary as anyone could dream."—Neil Gaiman